1. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra!
O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is your name in all the earth!
Notes:
- est – 3rd sg. pres. act. ind. of sum, esse, fui – to be.
- in universa terra – in + abl. = “in/throughout the whole earth.”
- admirabile – “admirable, worthy of wonder.”
2. Quoniam elevata est magnificentia tua super caelos.
For your greatness has been raised above the heavens.
Notes:
- elevata est – 3rd sg. perf. pass. ind. of elevo, elevare, elevavi, elevatum – to lift up, raise.
- super caelos – super + acc. = “above the heavens.”
- magnificentia, -ae (f.) – “greatness, magnificence.”
3. Ex ore infantium et lactentium perfecisti laudem propter inimicos tuos, ut destruas inimicum et ultorem.
Out of the mouth of infants and sucklings you have completed praise, because of your enemies, so that you may destroy the enemy and the avenger.
Notes:
- perfecisti – 2nd sg. perf. act. ind. of perficio, perficere, perfeci, perfectum – to complete, make perfect.
- ut destruas – purpose clause.
- destruas – 2nd sg. pres. act. subj. of destruo, destruere, destruxi, destructum – to destroy.
- ultor, ultoris (m.) – avenger.
4. Quoniam videbo caelos tuos, opera digitorum tuorum, lunam et stellas quae tu fundasti.
For when I will see your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you founded.
Notes:
- videbo – 1st sg. fut. act. ind. of video, videre, vidi, visum – to see.
- fundasti – 2nd sg. perf. act. ind. of fundo, fundare, fundavi, fundatum – to found, establish.
5. Quid est homo, quod memor es eius? aut filius hominis, quoniam visitas eum?
What is man, that you are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that you visit him?
Notes:
- quod – conjunction = “that.” Later/Christian Latin usage influenced by Greek ὅτι.
- memor, memoris (adj.) – mindful, remembering. Governs the genitive (memor es eius = “you are mindful of him”).
- es – 2nd sg. pres. act. ind. of sum.
- visitas – 2nd sg. pres. act. ind. of visito, visitare, visitavi, visitatum – to visit, look after.
6. Minuisti eum paulo minus ab angelis: gloria et honore coronasti eum.
You have made him a little less than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor.
Notes:
- minuisti – 2nd sg. perf. act. ind. of minuo, minuere, minui, minutum – to lessen, diminish.
- coronasti – 2nd sg. perf. act. ind. of corono, coronare, coronavi, coronatum – to crown.
- paulo minus – abl. of degree of difference, “a little less.”
7. Et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum.
And you have set him over the works of your hands.
Notes:
- constituisti – 2nd sg. perf. act. ind. of constituo, constituere, constitui, constitutum – to set, appoint.
- super + acc. = “over.”
8. Omnia subiecisti sub pedibus eius.
You have subjected all things under his feet.
Notes:
- subiecisti – 2nd sg. perf. act. ind. of subicio, subicere, subieci, subiectum – to place under, subject.
- sub + abl. = “under.”
9. Oves et boves universas: insuper et pecora campi.
Sheep and oxen, all of them: and also the animals of the field.
Notes:
- Still governed by subiecisti from v.8.
- oves – acc. pl. of ovis, ovis (f.) – sheep.
- boves – acc. pl. of bos, bovis (m./f.) – ox, cow (common gender).
- pecora – acc. pl. neut. of pecus, pecoris (n.) – herd animals, livestock. Distinct from pecus, pecudis (f.), a single beast.
- insuper – adverb, “besides, moreover.”
10. Volucres caeli, et pisces maris, qui perambulant semitas maris.
The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, which go through the paths of the seas.
Notes:
- Still governed by subiecisti from v.8.
- volucres – acc. pl. of volucris, volucris (f.) – bird.
- pisces – acc. pl. of piscis, piscis (m.) – fish.
- perambulant – 3rd pl. pres. act. ind. of perambulo, perambulare, perambulavi, perambulatum – to go through, traverse.
- semita, -ae (f.) – path, track.
11. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra!
O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is your name in all the earth!
Notes:
- Refrain (same as v.1).